The Department of Justice yesterday revealed an embarrassing document for Microsoft - a 1998 US patent where Microsoft's patent lawyers appeared to make it clear that Web browsers and operating systems were two separate things. The patent relates to online banking, and includes the words: "It should be understood by those skilled in the art that a Web browser, such as Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer … is separate from the operating system." The DoJ's David Boies said he'd discovered the patent over the weekend, and happily noted that Microsoft's patent lawyers and its antitrust lawyers seem to think different things. Microsoft retorted that the patent referred to versions of Internet Explorer for non-Windows platforms such as Mac or Unix - which are separate applications. ® Complete Register trial coverage